Mayumi opens her mouth to offer some words of encouragement.

  But Fujibayashi's line came first.

  150

  "Didn't the enemy magician retreat because you did enough damage to him?"

  "…I did feel that I broke his ribs."

  "Then it was a draw."

  "You think so?"

  "I do."

  Her tone was objective, as if she's simply noting the facts. This brief exchange with Fujibayashi, helped Ryousuke conclude that, in a sense, it would be presumptuous of him to feel like a loser when he has not lost. He realized that behind that vanity lurked the notion that if he didn't win, he would be pathetic.

  He doesn't need to be the absolute strongest. It's not possible to always win all the time.

  He realized that this was an obvious fact.

  Though it was no consolation, it served to lighten Ryousuke's depressed mood.

  "But still, for someone to be able to pierce Tookami-san's magic shield with a knife, he's definitely no ordinary person. Do you have any clue as to who he might be?"

  "…To be honest, I'm not too familiar with the names in the magic community… But, come to think of it, he called himself 'Lü Dongbin'."

  "Lü Dongbin… as in 'Ryou Doubin'?"

  Due to her background as a descendant of a lineage of prominent ancient-style magicians, as well as her service in a special unit based around modern magic, Fujibayashi has extensive knowledge about both modern and ancient-style magicians.

  She immediately connected the phonetics of "Lü Dongbin" with that of "呂洞賓" ─ "Ryou Doubin" as is pronounced in Japan ─ the legendary Xian of the East-Asian continent.

  "How did it feel when you noticed your shield was broken?"

  Fujibayashi asks another question.

  Ryousuke wrinkled his brow in thought. It had been only half a day past the surgery on his flank. There were some signs of exhaustion in his expression. Both the battle and the surgery had probably sapped much of his strength.

  But she kept her eyes on him, waiting for an answer, ignoring Mayumi's pleading look in her eyes to call it off.

  Mayumi was there to visit him, but Fujibayashi was there to question him. She wanted to learn as much as she could about what cards the enemy had in their hands. With 151

  Ryousuke as one of her only sources of information, she had to speak to him if she wanted to find out more about them, however injured he might be.

  "…I don't think it was the knife that pierced my armor."

  Fujibayashi called it a shield, Ryousuke, armor. Both refer to the same magic shield as a general term. And "Armor" is Ryousuke's short for [Reactive Armor].

  "Right after I punched him in the chest, my armor was gone."

  "A compulsive magic deactivation on contact? Neutralization, perhaps."

  "Neutralization?"

  Ryousuke repeats quizzically.

  From her expression, Fujibayashi seems to have an idea of what happened.

  But all she said was, "No, it's nothing", Fujibayashi apologized for tiring him out and left the hospital room.

  Mayumi and Ryousuke were left alone in the private hospital room. Left with them was an awkward atmosphere.

  Unfortunately, if you will, without any romantic undertone.

  "Er, um… And you, Saegusa-san, did you get hurt?"

  Feeling the weight of the silence become unbearable, Ryousuke anxiously attempts a conversation.

  "Yes, I'm fine. Mostly thanks to you…"

  And from the slight look of relief on Mayumi, she couldn't bear it either.

  "Wow, so you really managed to take on Laura Simons unscathed."

  "I wouldn't say that much, it was just because you were taking care of the most troublesome opponent, Tookami-san."

  Gradually getting back into the swing of things, Mayumi brings a smile befitting a daughter of the Saegusa Family.

  The greatest woman in Ryousuke's eyes is Lena. But his feelings for her go beyond love, into worship. He sanctifies her so profoundly, in such a high regard that he does not even recognize her as a fellow person of flesh and blood, let alone as an object of love.

  152

  Mayumi's elegant forged smile has a certain calculated charm ─ an alluring effect that Lena's gracious, yet simple, genuine smile does not have.

  Is not Mayumi's design to seduce Ryousuke. Her "forged smile" was perfected to the extent she could create one without consciously trying to do so.

  With Ryousuke at an abrupt loss of words, Mayumi tilts her head to the side without dropping her smile. Even that seemingly innocuous gesture was similarly crafted over the years to evoke the goodwill of the other. While head tilting training was certainly not among Mayumi's etiquette curriculum, it was but a minor detail she developed over the course of her lessons in dance and etiquette.

  "Are you perhaps not feeling well?"

  Saying this, Mayumi bends over to meet Ryousuke's eyes. Most likely, simply to assure he was not masking his pain.

  But having someone who, due to the height difference, you are used to looking down on on a daily basis looking down on you can feel uncomfortable. Unbearable even if said person was a very attractive member of the opposite sex.

  He did the only logical thing (?) and looked away.

  Simply tuning his head around would make it too clear he was trying to hide his embarrassment. He was also concerned it would seem rude to Mayumi. Therefore, he chose to keep his head in place and avert his eyes downwards.

  His plan led him straight to the sight of her bosom, of quite generous proportions for such a petite figure.

  Despite the midsummer weather, her short-sleeve blouse left no inch of bare skin visible.

  But even without clear exposure, or degree of transparency, nevertheless its summer clothing with its customary thin fabric. From such a close distance, liking or not, there it was the very shape of her breasts under her underwear.

  Ryosuke hushed to close his shutters.

  Mayumi finally realized from his reaction the effect her position was having on him.

  She brought her back upright in a similar hurry, raising her arms in an attempt to cover her breasts, her cheeks stained with embarrassment.

  Each movement in its own way was mesmerizing, much to Ryousuke's consternation.

  153

  Sentiment Mayumi shared. Finally, not being able to stand it any longer, she uttered the pleasantries almost as a gesture of resignation, and quickly left the hospital room.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Bukhara, Uzbekistan. August 12th, 9:00 A.M. local time. Same day, 1:00 P.M. Japan time.

  Tatsuya received the report from Fujibayashi via satellite phone.

  "…I see. So he made the shield disappear on contact."

  The contents of the report discuss the results of the investigation conducted with Ryousuke at the hospital.

  [I suspect it was neutralized by emitting Psion waves of the inverse phase.]

  Tatsuya nodded with a "I concur" with Fujibayashi's speculation.

  "About the name the enemy gave, are you positive that it is 'Lü Dongbin'?"

  Then he double-checked the identity of the enemy.

  [Yes. Likely one of the 'Bāxiān']

  [Bāxiān], the special operations unit of the GAU military, composed of the elite of the elite of the ancient-style magician combatants. The existence of this team was deemed of high concern by the Independent Magic-Equipped Regiment since its battalion existence. Although Tatsuya was not clear on the details in his service with the Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion, he was briefed on the general outlines.

  Presumably, even as of now, Fujibayashi may be a better informed person about "Bāxiān"

  than he is.

  "So what are your thoughts on the GAU possibly having an interest in FAIR?"

  [Considering the fact that FAIR was founded under the devices of Gu Jie behind the scenes, I wouldn't assume a pre-existing connection. I suspect they made contact via a network of local ethnic Chinese and offered help with the escape from the police.]

  "Perhaps that's how it went down. But that aside, FAIR seems to be the least of the issues in this case."

  [I am inclined to agree with you.]

  This time, it was Fujibayashi to back-channel Tatsuya's point.

  154

  [It is difficult to understand why the Bāxiān, which is contained to the western region of the GAU, would join forces with the FAIR from America and attempt to commit robberies in Japan.]

  "This is still just speculation, but perhaps they are interested in the magic of prehistoric civilizations that FAIR unearthed."

  Tatsuya offers a hypothesis to the question posed by Fujibayashi.

  [Could their goal be the prehistoric civilization's magic [Babel]?]

  "If so, then the use of [Babel] in this latest attack may have been prompted by Lü Dongbin."

  [Are you suggesting that Lü Dongbin's participation in the FLT attack was to observe the effects of [Babel]?]

  "It would explain why he withdrew so readily if you think so."

  Tatsuya expressed withdrawing after having suffered broken ribs as "readily".

  Fujibayashi felt a brief moment of discomfort, but then reconsidered, "Surely a broken rib or two was not reason enough when it came to the elite of the operative unit".

  Having finished his call with Fujibayashi, Tatsuya kept the satellite phone in hands and dialed another number.

  Three rings, then four, and still no answer. Seven went by, and he still couldn't get through.

  It was past one o'clock in the afternoon in Japan. Maybe he was busy at work.

  Tatsuya thought, "I'll call back later," at which point he received an answer.

  [Sorry, I made you wait! It's me, Fumiya]

  His voice over the phone sounded rushed. So he's really busy, Tatsuya thought.

  "You sound busy. I'm sorry to bother you. I'll call you back when it's convenient for you."

  [No, I'm fine now. What can I do for you?]

  The urgency in Fumiya's voice grew a degree stronger. Tatsuya wondered if he was pushing himself in doing so, but decided not to be deterred, as he had business that made him make the call.

  "I assume you know about the recent attack on FLT."

  155

  [Ah, yes. I was surprised. If we were guarding the place, we wouldn't have let the bandits get away…]

  "I need your help to clean up that mess. I'm sorry you may be in the middle of another case, but I have to ask."

  [There is an agent from the GAU military involved, isn't there? If so, this has a higher priority. So, should we catch the culprit?]

  Fumiya sounded enthusiastic. So eager to almost seem like he was looking forward to the task.

  Fumiya sounded enthusiastic. So eager to almost the level of impulsiveness.

  "No need, I'll catch them myself. I have something I'd like to verify."

  [Understood, I'll start the search right away.]

  Before Tatsuya could even verbalize, Fumiya grasped what Tatsuya's next words were.

  [The targets are Lü Dongbin and Laura Simons, correct?]

  "No, just Lü Dongbin is fine; Laura Simons is fine as an afterthought."

  But alas, there seems to be the limit to their synchronicity.

  [Do you believe that Laura Simons and Lü Dongbin are acting separately?]

  "I'd bet 50% she is. But Laura Simons can't afford to leave the ancient master of the art alone even if we don't make a move."

  Says Tatsuya in ridicule.

  'Yes, that's right. Witches are a 'noxious invasive species' to any kind of traditionalists."

  Fumiya responded in a deadly serious tone.

  Both then broke into a laugh in unison across the satellite phone line.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Tatsuya was using the satellite phone from the balcony of his hotel room. When he returned to his room after the two calls, he found not only Hyougo but also Miyuki and Lina there.

  "Tatsuya-sama, was it Fujibayashi-san?"

  "That's right," Tatsuya answered Miyuki.

  156

  "She was reporting to me what she learned from Tookami about yesterday's attack."

  He then added.

  "So the culprits were FAIR people after all?"

  Lina takes her turn to ask impatiently.

  "There were two individuals. One was Laura Simons of FAIR, and the other one called himself Lü Dongbin."

  "Lü Dongbin? Is he Chinese?"

  "He is presumably a magician operative of the GAU military."

  "FAIR is working with the GAU military?!"

  Miyuki expresses her surprise.

  "Presumably."

  "How on earth!?"

  Lina seems outraged by the prospect.

  The reason for her indignation was made clear in her next line.

  "How did they allow an operative to infiltrate the West Coast?!"

  It is unlikely that FAIR was the one to reach out to the GAU military for help, so it is reasonable to assume that it was an agent or an operative of the GAU military that reached for Rocky Dean or Laura Simons, since both are on the run. This would mean that an agent of the GAU military had infiltrated the West Coast of the USNA.

  "They must have used local Chinese connections. USNA is not a particularly strict or isolationist nation. You have to account for the fact that infiltrations will happen, eventually."

  "You're right, but still…"

  Appeased by Tatsuya, Lina settles down for the time being.

  "In regards to this Lü Dongbin, he possesses a magic skill that cannot be dismissed."

  "Is it a special magic?"

  Miyuki asked in a calm tone, already having regained her composure.

  "It nullified Tookami's individual armor magic."

  157

  "…And what's bothering you about that?"

  Lina wondered, not sure what Tatsuya's issue on the matter was.

  "Tookami's individual armor magic was developed by the former Tenth Research Institute. In terms of strength alone, it is comparable to [Phalanx]."

  "…So?"

  "The Juumonji family [Phalanx] is the strongest defensive magic in the Ten Master Clans.

  The fact that Tookami's individual armor magic, which is comparable to that, was nullified means, in other words, that there is no magic from Ten Master Clans that can prevent an attack by this Lü Dongbin. Was that what you were thinking, Tatsuya-sama?"

  Miyuki guessed his answer to Lina's question before Tatsuya had the chance to respond.

  "I get it."

  Lina was satisfied with Miyuki's guess.

  "I'd say that's not all."

  But Tatsuya had another point left unsaid.

  "It is also important to know how Tookami's individual armor magic was nullified. We need to be able to respond in case we find ourselves against an enemy with the same nullification technique."

  "…Are you planning to fight them yourself?"

  Miyuki couldn't hide the worry in her voice as she asked.

  "I intend to."

  Tatsuya's expression, on the other hand, showed no hesitation. Naturally ─ though not quite, in his case ─ there was no sign of uneasiness.

  "Isn't it dangerous to fight an enemy that has means to nullify magic that we do not understand?"

  "It's not like we have no idea how it works. I have some rough idea of what to expect myself."

  "Really?"

  "I presume it counteracts by applying the principles of Hex Reversal techniques."

  "Hex Reversal…?"

  158

  "Counteracts, you say…?"

  Both Lina and Miyuki tilted her heads in confusion.

  However, Tatsuya left them in the dark as to the details.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  Lena felt nervous as she faced Evelyn, who had a stiff expression on her face.

  They were in her hotel room in Samarkand. Evelyn came to her room and said, "We need to talk," so Lena invited her in.

  She offered her a chair, but Evelyn refused to sit down, leaving Lena with no choice but to keep standing as well.

  It's just her and Evelyn in the room.

  Lena was starting to feel suffocated with the atmosphere.

  "Just now, I received an order to report back home."

  When Evelyn finally opened her mouth, the message was unexpected.

  It didn't come as a surprise after careful consideration. After the commotion she caused in the city the day before yesterday."

  Even if it happened in the outskirts of town, where there are few pedestrians around, it would still not be enough to justify the possible diplomatic issues that might arise from a magic shootout in the middle of a city in a foreign country. Although "possible" may be too optimistic, the incident has probably arisen as a diplomatic concern already.

  "Ms. Fehr, what will you do?"

  Lena blinked repeatedly wordlessly. The question came as too much of a surprise for her to answer on the spur of the moment.

  "…Of course I'll return as well. We have no reason to stay any longer in this country."

  This answer, given after a brief delay, causes a slight shift in Evelyn's tense expression.

  "Ah!", she exclaims, as if she has just remembered something that she had forgotten.

  The whole situation must have completely slipped Evelyn's mind, where she used Lena as a pretext to get into the IPU and have her dragged here to Samarkand. If she had that fact in mind she would have rather asked "I'm going back home, will you stay here?"

  instead of what she did.

  "I see, then… If you excuse me. I will arrange with the consulate for the return ticket."

  159

  Evelyn's demeanor flipped 180º into extremely cordiality.

  Lena pitied her a little, for the severe punishment she may be subjected to.

  ◇ ◇ ◇

  He was returning to his room after an early dinner on the following night of his request when Tatsuya received a phone call regarding Lü Dongbin's whereabouts.

  "You found him out already? It may as well be a cliché at this point, but I shouldn't expect anything less from you.

  Complaints from Ayako flow across the satellite connection.

  "I'm sorry for not noticing. I'll be more careful, and I'll call you next time, Ayako."

  [That's a promise, then.]

  In true hot-cold fashion, her tone over the phone gave the impression that Ayako tried, and failed, to hide her upbeat mood.